CAF President Patrice Motsepe has revealed plans to expand the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams, marking a significant shift in the structure of the continent’s flagship tournament.
Speaking after a CAF Executive Committee meeting on Sunday, Motsepe described the move as part of a broader vision to elevate African football and create more opportunities for talent across the continent.
“This reflects our commitment to world-class football and ensuring that top African players from across the globe return to compete on home soil,” Motsepe noted.
However, details on how the expanded format will operate remain unclear, with CAF yet to outline the competition structure or confirm when the changes will take effect. AFCON has featured 24 teams since 2019, an increase from the previous 16.
Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 tournament will proceed as planned, with Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda jointly hosting the event. He also disclosed that an additional AFCON edition will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will adopt a four-year cycle.
In a further shake-up of the continental calendar, CAF plans to introduce an African Nations League starting in 2029. The competition will be played annually, culminating in a 16-team finals tournament every two years.
“We must ensure African football fixtures are predictable, consistent, and reliable,” Motsepe emphasized, adding that East Africa remains a key region for the sport’s growth.
Motsepe also addressed the ongoing dispute surrounding the 2025 AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco. He reiterated that CAF will abide by the ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following Senegal’s appeal against the decision to overturn their victory.
“I will respect and implement the CAS decision. My personal views do not matter,” he stated.
The controversy stems from a dramatic final in Rabat, where Senegal initially secured a 1-0 win before Morocco successfully appealed, resulting in a 3-0 ruling in their favor. The match had been marred by a late penalty decision that triggered protests from Senegal’s players and technical staff.
Despite the dispute, Senegal recently paraded the AFCON trophy during an international friendly in Paris and donned jerseys bearing two stars symbolizing both their 2022 triumph and the contested 2025 result.
Motsepe revealed plans to visit both Senegal and Morocco in a bid to ease tensions and reinforce unity, underscoring the need for collaboration in advancing African football.
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